Balinese it self is not stay in Bali Island but also spread out through Indonesian island. Bali race is a group of community banded by the awareness or oneness of culture. The Balinese Traditional is much banded by the social live aspect like conduct the pray in the temple, to place in the certain area together etc. The Balinese were not able to develop and sustain their extremely complex agricultural economy for centuries on end without a very organized community structure.

The main religion practiced in Bali is a form of Hinduism called Agama Hindu Dharma, where the Hindu it self is consisted of some religious sect, but in Bali all of Balinese are Hindu Ciwa. The two religions (Hindu and Buddhist) arrive from Java and some extend from India during the 8 th to 16 th centuries. The main symbol of Balinese Hinduism is the Swastika or wheel of the sun. An important belief is that elements of nature are influenced by spirit, which has been appeased. As such offerings (Sesajen) made from agriculture product are offered to this spirit. It is believed that Mount Agung is the abode of the gods and the ancestors. As such, it is revered as the `mother` mountain and is highly sacred to the Balinese.

The basis of this community structure is called Subak and Banjar. Everyone who owns a rice paddy must join the Subak in their village. The Subak controls who will plant rice and when (plantings are staggered so that pestilence is minimized). As well and more importantly, the Subak ensures that all farmers receive their fair share of irrigation water since traditionally the head the Subak was the farmer whose field was at the bottom of the hill and water first had to pass through everybody else's field before it was allowed to irrigate his. The other important community structure is the Banjar that organizes all other aspects of Balinese life (i.e. marriages, cremations, community service, festivals and the like). When a man marries, he is expected to join the village Banjar and must participate in community affairs. Meetings are held at a large open-air building called the Bale Banja.

Balinese people are friendly lot. Smile at them, and they will smile back. Balinese attentiveness in the service industry is simply unmatched and legendary. They are ever helpful and will always try hard to please you.

People (7+ million) live in the interior of the West Sumatra province. The largest matrilineal social system in the world; titles, property and family names are handed down the female line. Called "mother right" rather than female rule. The Minangkabau live by adat, or customary rule, and concensus.

Highly literate and well- educated people, they are known throughout Indonesia for their success in business, martial arts, hot spicy food and their cultural pride.

The largest ethnic group on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia, whose traditional homeland is the west central highlands. Their language, closely resembling Malay, belongs to the Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian) language family. In the late 20th century their numbers were estimated at approximately 6,000,000. Although Muslim, the Minangkabau are matrilineal, tracing descent and inheritance through the female line. Traditionally, a wife remained with her maternal relatives after marriage, and a husband continued to reside in his mother’s house.

Rumah Gadang, Minangkabau Traditional House

The domestic unit was traditionally the community house, in which a head woman, her sisters, their daughters, and their children lived. Several of these houses made up the clan, within which no marriage was allowed. Several clans made up the negari, the largest unit of government, roughly equivalent in size to a village. Each house was represented in the clan council by a male member.

The family house was a large rectangular structure, raised high above the ground, with a saddle-shaped roof. A main room occupied much of the structure. Adjoining it were the living compartments, each occupied by a woman, her children, and her husband (when visiting).

Payung Dance

The Minangkabau have extensive terraced fields and garden plots in which they raise irrigated rice, tobacco, and cinnamon, as well as fruits and vegetables. Their crafts include wood carving, metalworking, and weaving.

Since World War II the traditional kinship structure has declined in importance, and many nuclear families have left the village to establish their own households. Some of the kin-group land has become the personal property of these households.

Randai Dance

Some Minangkabau migrated to Malaya in the late 19th century and formed a confederation of small states that came to be known as Negri Sembilan (Nine States). Minangkabau tribesmen, closely resembling peninsular Malay, left Sumatra to seek greater economic opportunity across the Strait of Malacca. Rapid expansion of Malayan tin mining after 1850 lured increasing numbers of Minangkabau as miners or as petty merchants. The immigrants secured transit to Malaya by selling property or receiving assisted passage in return for contract mine labour. By the beginning of the 20th century, however, capital-intensive mining displaced Minangkabau miners, who then shifted to agricultural pursuits in interior river valleys. Land was plentiful, and the Minangkabau frequently gained title to land by clearing, planting, and living on it. Malay sultans raised no objections to these linguistically Malay immigrants, who partially offset the influx of Chinese labourers. Minangkabau immigrants became successful smallholder farmers and in the 20th century came to control most retail trade in Malaya.

Meat rendang traditional cuisine is typical of West Sumatra (Minangkabau). Ethnic this very tune in all the community, both in and abroad. Rendang daging materials created with the main beef, coconut and spice mixture some typical Indonesia. To produce meat rendang needed at least a good chili (lado), ginger, Serai, cook onion and various spices.
Cultural communities in West Sumatra rendang is not only a favorite food, but also has a value of philosophy itself. Rendang represent nature Minangkabau society and culture that is consensus, with the 4 elements represented by the rendang.

Meat (Dagiang), which reflects the Ninik Mamak as ethnic leaders,

Coconut (Karambia), which reflects the cadiak clever and intellectual,

Cabe (lado), which reflects the learned scholars who are spicy, firm in the faith,

The Batak people live in the north of Sumatra, in the hilly region of lake Toba. At the beginning of this century the last Batak were placed under the authority of the Netherlands. Most of them were christianized. The Batak form the largest protestant community of Asia. Nevertheless a lot of old traditions were preserved. More than 5 million people are Batak; it is one of Indonesia's largest population groups.

Tor-tor dance of Batak Toba

Actually Batak is a general name for 6 groups with different cultural and linguistic characteristics, but they believe in a descent of a common ancestor. The house model you've just seen, is for instance typical for the Batak. However, all Batak have in common that they live on the growing of rice and have the same wedding system.

The Batak are organized in 'margas', large family groups. The members of one marga can only marry a person of another marga. Upon her marriage the wife passes over into the husband's marga. The name of 'Marga' (family group) usually used at the last name of Batak People. Batak has a lot of 'marga' such as Situmorang, Sidabutar, Pangabean, Sinulingga, Lubis, Sihite, Marpaung, Siagian, Siahaan, Pohan, Nasution, Siregar, Silalahi, etc.

Batak Church with traditional architecture

The Batak Toba and Batak Simalungun people live around Parapat. The Batak people composed of Batak Toba, Batak Simulungun, Batak Pak-Pak, Batak Mandailing, Batak Karo, are known for their expressiveness, which is often materialized in lively and sentimental love songs. If every person in Bali can carve, every person in Batak can sing of play the guitar.

History Of modern Batak influenced by two celestial religions namely Christian and Islam. Islam more and more strong its(the influence at the time of Perang Padri, through mission activity done the da'i from from country Minang. Spreading extension of religion islam also have ever entered is finite to area Tapanuli Utara under leader Mr. me Sumatranese Rao of West, but fairly not success. Islam is more grows among Batak Mandailing and some of Batak Angkola.

New Christian had an effect on among Batak Angkola and Toba after the several Christian mission sent experiences failure. Most successful missionary is IL. Nommensen is continuing its(the predecessor duty propagating Christian religion in region Tapanuli. At the time, public Batak is residing in around Tapanuli, especially Tarutung, given teaching of read writes, expertise is having worker for the man and expertise sews and housewifery for mothers.

This Training and teaching then grows is finite finally stands up elementary school and expertise school in some regions in Tapanuli. Nommensen and other religion spreader also stands is big in development two the existing hospitals, RS UMUM TARUTUNG and RS HKBP Balige, which there [are] far before Indonesia independences. Meanwhile, development of formal education also still going on so is opened it a college so called Universitas HKBP IL. Nommensen ( UHN) the year 1954. This university became the first private university in Sumatra Utara and initially only consisted of Faculty Of Economics and Fakultas Theologia.

The Sunda, the largest Indonesian unreached people group, are the original inhabitants of West Jawa (Java). The region of the Sunda people is called Tanah Pasundan (Pasundan Land). The Sunda live next to the Jawa, Banten, and Cirebon people. The animistic Baduy people (population of +5,000) also speak Sunda and still practice Sunda culture since the time before Islamicization and modernization.

Jajaka Bandung

For generations the Sunda have lived primarily in the province of West Jawa with some living in Central Jawa. Traditionally, Sunda people support themselves by farming, both for their own needs and also for profit. Because of its high fertility, West Jawa is a very important area for farms and plantations. This area has long been considered the "national rice storehouse." Besides rice farms, there are also large tea plantations, especially in the mountains. Many secondary crops and various fruits are also grown in abundance.The Sunda are known for their friendliness. The Sunda have much in common with the Jawa, especially in their way of dress and methods of farming. However, the Sunda place more emphasis on informality and openness while the Jawa tend to be more formal and hierarchical. Another difference is that the Sunda are more strongly Islamicized. While the Sunda live on the geographical island of Jawa, they consider themselves a distinct cultural island called Sunda. Someone moving from West Jawa to central or eastern Jawa is literally said to be moving from Sunda to Jawa.The development of industry and large housing developments is beginning to change the Sunda way of life.

Jaipongan Dance

Many Sunda people no longer work as farmers. The Sunda are one people group who are somewhat influential in the government. Some Sunda have also become capable traders.Among the Sunda people, there are 3 roles that exert a strong authority and influence on community life: (1) Religious leaders, such as kiai, ustadz (teachers of Islam), and imam (Muslim prayer & ceremonial priests); (2) Local government leaders, such as heads of districts and sub-districts and their staff; (3) Dukun (shaman/healer/occultist) and teachers of pencak silat (an Indonesian martial art).

Merak Dance

Almost all Sunda are Muslims. In many areas, Islam is mixed with Sunda traditional customs. The Sunda seek to protect their harmony with the natural world. They do this through traditional ceremonies for spiritual harmony and gotong royong (mutual assistance) events for social harmony. In the legend of Lutung Kasarung, there is a belief that God incarnated a little of himself in the world in order to protect the life of man. This incarnation is called dewata (gods).

The sweet-tempered Sundanese people developed a taste for the raw sweetness of naturally occuring foods that they satisfied with luscious salads grown on the luxuriant land. The cavorting fish in the rivers, with their glinting scales that reflected the myriad colours of the rainbow, was also a favourite with the people because of their abundant meat. The patient villagers cultivated the method of cooking the fish over a bed of red-hot charcoal which sealed in the juices and retained the tenderness of its flesh.

Ayam Bakar Bandung

One day, the people decided to enhance the taste of the fish by adding the ingredients of the salad they loved. And so, they pounded, mashed and ground the leaves, roots, stems and fruits into a thick, rich paste, which they spread generously over the sizzling fish.

A tantalising aroma soon filled the air. Mouths watering, the people of Sunda bit into of the fish and wonderment lit their eyes and set their tongues a-tingling as they savoured the delectable paste and tasted the sweet juices of the succulent flesh inside. It was a heavenly, scrumptious taste, the taste of paradise.

Soto Bandung

Salad Sunda and Fried Tofu

And here, at the House of Sundanese food, we have perfected this traditional style of cooking to bring you the BBQ fish, a taste sensation truly befitting the Gods.